Early West African kingdoms grew wealthy by exporting what resource

Answer 1

Early West African kingdoms grew wealthy by exporting various resources, but one of the most prominent and valuable resources was gold. West Africa, particularly the region known as the Sahel, was rich in gold deposits which were mined by the indigenous people. These kingdoms, such as the Ghana Empire (6th-13th century), Mali Empire (13th-15th century), and Songhai Empire (15th-16th century), controlled and taxed the gold trade, allowing them to accumulate substantial wealth. Gold was highly sought after by merchants from North Africa, the Mediterranean, and even Europe, who traded it for salt, textiles, horses, and other goods. This trade in gold and other resources facilitated the growth and prosperity of these early West African kingdoms.